18. Where a place is likely to contain a dangerous accumulation of water, the working approaching that place shall not at any point within forty yards of that place exceed eight feet in width, and there shall be constantly kept at a suffi cient distance, not being less than five yards, in advance, at least one bore-hole near the centre of the working, and sufficient bore-holes on each side.
14. Every underground plane on which persons travel, which is self-acting or worked by an engine, windlass, or gin shall be provided (if exceeding thirty yards in length) with some proper means of communicating distinct and definite signals between the stopping places and ends of the plane, and shall be provided in every case with sufficient man-holes for places of refuge, at intervals of not more than twenty yards, or if there is not room for a person to stand between the side of a tub and the side of the plane, then (unless the tubs are moved by an endless chain or rope) at intervals of not more than ten yards.
15. Every road on which persons travel under where the load is drawn by a horse or other animal shall be provided, at intervals of not more than fifty yards, with sufficient man-holes or other places of refuge, and every such place of refuge shall be of sufficient length, and at least three feet in width, between the waggons running on the road and the side of such road. There shall be at least two proper travelling ways into every steam-engine room and boiler gallery.
16. Every man-hole and every place of refuge shall be constantly kept clear, and no person shall place anything in any such man-hole or place of refuge.
17. Every travelling road on which a horse or other draught animal is used underground shall be of sufficient dimensions to allow the horse or other animal to pass without rubbing against the roof or timbering.
18. The top of every shaft which for the time being is out of use, or used only as an air-shaft, shall be kept securely fenced.
19. The top and all entrances between the top and bottom, including the sump, if any, of every working, ventilating, or pumping shaft shall be properly fenced, but this shall not be taken to forbid the temporary removal of the fence for the purpose of repairs or other operations if proper precautions are used.
20. Where the natural strata are not safe, every working or pumping shaft shall be securely cased, lined, or otherwise made secure.
21. The roof and sides of every travelling road and working place shall be made secure, and a person shall not, unless appointed for the purpose of exploring or repairing, travel or work in any such travelling road or working place which is not so made secure.
22. Where the timbering of the working places is done by the workmen employed therein, suitable timber shall be provided at the working place, gate end, pass bye, siding or other similar place in the mine convenient to the workmen, and the distance between the strags or holing props where they are required shall not exceed six feet or such less distance as may be ordered by the owner, agent, or manager.
28. Where there is a downcast and furnace shaft to the same seam, and both such shafts are provided with apparatus in use for raising and lowering persons, every person employed in the mine shall, on giving reasonable notice, have the option of using the downcast shaft.
24. In any mine which is usually entered by means of machinery, e competent male person not less than twenty-two years of age shall be ap pointed for the purpose of working machinery which is employed in lowering and raising persons therein, and shall attend for that purpose during the whole time that any person is below ground in the mine. Where any shaft, plane, or level is used for the purpose of communicating from one part to another part of the mine, and persons are taken up or down or along such shaft, plane, or level by means of an engine, windlass, or gin, driven or worked by steam or any mechanical power, or by an animal, or by manual labour, the person in charge of such engine, windlass, or gin, or of any part of the machinery, ropes, chains, or tackle connected therewith, must be a competent male person not less than eighteen years of age. Where the naachinery is worked by an animal the person under whose direction the driver of the animal acts shall, for the purposes of this rule, be deemed to be the person in charge of the machinery.